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Care of chinaware
PORCELAIN, china, and ceramic objects can be maintained for years of use provided that some basic care and attention is given to their preservation. It is important to understand and minimise or eliminate conditions that can cause damage. The following basic guidelines can ensure their proper care, handling, and cleaning. Except where otherwise noted, the cleaning solutions recommended below can be used on both glazed and unglazed surfaces, including grout. Unglazed surfaces that are light in colour, however, are liable to assume the colour of the cleaning solution. If you are in doubt, test the solution on a small patch before undertaking an entire project. After finishing with any cleaning substance, rinse the area with plain water and dry it off with a towel or absorbent cloth. Removing stains Coffee: Dampen a cloth with water, dip it in baking soda and scrub the mixture over the stain. Fruit juice/tea: Wash the area with a solution made of 1 tablespoon trisodium phosphate and 1 quart hot water. Rinse, then follow with a solution of 3 tablespoons laundry bleach in 1 quart of warm water. Grease:
Using a stiff-bristled brush scrub the affected area with a strong
solution of heavy-duty household detergent or a solution made of ½
cup trisodium phosphate and 1 gallon of very hot water. |
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Mildew: Mix ½ cup laundry bleach with 1 quart water and apply with a sponge Oil: Mix a thick paste of household scouring powder and water. Apply the paste to the stain and allow it to stand overnight. Unknown stain: On glazed surfaces, apply a stiff paste of whiting (calcium carbonate) and household ammonia. Damaged porcelain or china can be repaired at home. Here are some do-it-yourself tips for mending broken or chipped pieces: Repairing a crack A cracked piece of china is likely to break eventually, but it can be secured. To mend the crack, put your oven on a very low heat. Place the cracked plate, cup, or whatever in it to get warm, but not hot. Meanwhile, take some epoxy resin glue or elfy. Squeeze out the elfy onto a flat surface. Mix well using a match stick or a small piece of wood. Dip the gluey stick into a pot of paint powder, which matches the color of the china. This will ensure that when dry, the glue won’t appear yellowy, but matches the colour of the china. Mix into the glue - not too much or the mixture will become too dry. Take the cracked item from the oven using oven gloves. The crack will have opened slightly due to the heat. Immediately fill the crack with the gluey mixture. Place tape across the crack to support the join. As the china cools down, it will contract, pulling the glue into the crack. Leave overnight to dry out. If any hardened glue remains, chip it away using half a razor blade. Protect your fingers by sticking tape over one edge. Your china is now solid, and will not crack further. The same procedure can be used to mend broken plates. Mending surface chips First you will need m-seal and some talcum powder. Protect your working surface with a sheet of paper. M-seal comes in two packs - take equal quantities from each and roll the clay into a ball. Keep rolling until the two colors have fused. You may need to apply powder to your fingers if they get sticky. Apply to the chip and fill in. Make circular motions using a little powder to create a smooth surface. Leave to cure for six hours. Next you will need sandpaper, make sure it’s a fine grade. Rub gently until the m-seal is flush with the surface, taking care not to damage the existing glaze or decoration. Joining a cup handle To repair the damage, you’ll need some araldite - a household adhesive , and some Titanium dioxide powder that you can find at a chemist. You will also need an old tile, cotton balls and a toothpick. Squeeze out equal quantities from each of the tubes of araldite onto a clean tile. Using the cocktail stick, mix the two together thoroughly. Take a toothpick and add a few grains of titanium dioxide. Blend this in with the araldite. Next you’ll need some plasticine and some gummed paper tape. Place the cup on a tile and secure with plasticine. Using the cotton ball, apply the araldite to one side of the broken surface only. Stick the broken handle back in its original position. Cut a narrow piece of gummed paper strip and immerse it in a cup of water. Thread the strip through the handle - sticky side up - cross over the top and stick to the side of the cup. The tape must come at least two-thirds around the sides. As the strip dries the handle is pushed firm against the cup. Dip a cotton ball into some surgical spirit and clean up the area. It’ll need 24 hours to dry and 3 days to harden. After that, remove the gummed paper by dampening it with water. (Compiled by Chetna
Banerjee) |
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